Polymer Clay Challenge Week 12

For Week 12 of Katie Oskin's polymer clay challenge, I am doing a super fast post as my internet is kinda iffy this week. Fingers crossed. I skipped Week 11 since my son (the one in the military) and his girlfriend were here for a week-long visit (yay!) 

This is Meg Newberg's Cane Builder design for April 2015 (available by subscription at the link or individually at her Etsy shop). I literally sat down and started to build it within minutes of receiving it. Sorry about the photo quality. Overdue for a new camera and accepting recommendations :)

  

Hope to see you next week!

Polymer Clay Challenge Week 10

For Week 10 of Katie Oskin's polymer clay challenge, I am continuing on my quest to use canes I have been collecting or neglecting. This week I had a special request for custom buttons! 

Unlike me, my sister is a knitter. She got the WHOLE knitting gene from our Mum and knits compulsively. I "think" this is a sweater and headband for one of her great nieces (I'm not sure, because her knitting output is huge and so is her hubby's extended family LOL).

And now for some button closeups:

Buttons about 15mm, 1/2"+

The little petals are from a peach blossom cane I whipped up as part of my bee and flowers charm (2014 Art Charm Swap). It is adapted from on a technique by Meg Newberg; the free Youtube video can be viewed here. I wrapped the petal cane in a thin gold-ish layer so it wouldn't disappear into the white base layer.

As with most of my sculptural items, these were baked in three layers, beginning with the central "base" layer, then adding the shank button back covered with a textured bottom layer, then finally the flower parts were individually attached. I love that each button is a definite OOAK. There won't be my usual conservator's wax finish as these will need to be washed occasionally.

Hope to see everyone next time for Week 11 of our challenge!

Polymer Clay Challenge Week 8/9

*Still hopping for the GROW YOUR BLOG 2015? Click here please for that post*

For Week 9 of Katie Oskin's polymer clay challenge, I actually MADE a cane! I'm not sure what this one will be used for (that's almost always the case, I tend to make canes 'cause they are "fun" and good relaxation therapy). 

I'm not sure, but I think Week 8 may have evaporated LOL. These past 2 weeks involved my youngest son moving out (again) combined with my decision to reconfigure my craftroom/sewing room/studio, so when I got a precious few minutes, caning was the therapy of choice. Allow me to introduce the "Pirate Cane": 

Thought I'd share my vintage 1950's dining table as background

This is an easy original design by one of my favorite PC gals, Cindy Lietz. You can preview and buy a tutorial for this (along with two other cute projects) at Cindy's website here. I've had this tutorial for a long *ahem* time, but had forgotten about it. Love when that happens LOL

Hope to see everyone next week for Week 10 of our challenge. Uh... if no "moving of significant others" is involved :)

Polymer Clay Challenge Week 7

*Still hopping for the GROW YOUR BLOG 2015? Click here please*

Hello everyone! I fell victim to the winter flu season and have been under the weather for the past few weeks, but I'm hoping that is done, so I can start being creative again (not that I particularly cared about that while ill!) So as near as I can figure, this would be Week 7 (but someone can correct me if needs be). 

**I thought I had posted this last night, but apparently I missed the step of hitting that PUBLISH button**

For Week 7 of Katie Oskin's polymer clay challenge, I am continuing on my quest to use canes I have been collecting or neglecting. This is the case for a very specialized cane I made for a blog hop back in September 2012, for Erin Prais-Hintz's Challenge of Travel. The design came from satellite imagery of the African continent. I loved my Africa cane, but whenever I picked it up afterwards, I was utterly uninspired.

Slightly distorted cane end. Kindly ignore the wrinkles!

Enter the "Natasha" method. Not sure which Natasha this is named for, but she did the PC world a solid:

Beads #1 and #2

Each side of these four beads display a unique mirror image, formed by cutting lengthwise twice and inverting all the inner surfaces to the outside. The final shape is of a four-sided prism surmounted by a four-sided pyramid on each end. I've searched in vain for the "official" name of this 3-D shape... if there are any geometric wizards out there, I'd love to know. Otherwise I may have to make up a name for these. Which could be fun :)

Beads #3 and #4

The pendant was also a quickie method: take a length of cane, torture it a bit to distort, form into triangle, cut, cut, cut... and voila, instant (if very basic) kaleidoscope design:

A very loooong (30"+) necklace design with copper rolo chain. Lately I have been working a lot in sterling, but copper will always hold a special place in my heart :)

Hope to see everyone next week for Week 8 of our challenge (barring more illness, of course)!

Announcing my GYB Winner!

Here's the giveaway prize:

Thanks to everyone who visited (346) during GYB 2015, took time to comment (104)... and a special thanks to my new followers (34) :) I have been under the weather for the past few weeks, but I hope to get back to normal very soon :)

Here's my winner!

I'm always surprised when RNG selects one
near the beginning or end, as if those aren't
"random" enough for me LOL

Number 3 corresponds to... the lovely Maggie Bryant of Normandy Life. In case you missed her GYB 2015 post, you can read it here :) 

Maggie is an English expat, world traveler, gifted writer and photographer and avid gardener, collector/crafter and foodie. She writes the following about her home base in Normandy, France:

"Home is a 16th/18th century former Presbytery 

situated in a tiny village, 

surrounded by beautiful Normandy countryside. 

I share it with my lovely husband 

and best friend of over 35 years, 

and M'selle Fleur 

our gorgeous Berger Allemand."

Doesn't that sound like a spot you'd love to visit? Well, now you can (at least virtually!) Maggie's blog is a welcoming spot, filled with beautiful photos of the famous, the less famous, the sublime and the engaging. Do drop by for a visit anytime! 

Maggie, I hope you don't mind my sharing just a few of your wonderful photos for the benefit of those who haven't yet discovered your blog :)

Maggie is *ahem* traveling in Cyprus these days, so I look forward to reading about her trip and viewing more amazing photos (a bit jealous LOL).

Thanks again to everyone who participated, commented and/or followed :)